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Uber says it’s looking to Toronto’s top politicians, including Mayor John Tory, for a political solution instead of the current legal battle to shut down the company’s ride-sharing operations.

“Uber believes that we as a company and ride-sharing, in general, should and can be regulated in Canadian cities,” said Ian Black, general manager of Uber Toronto, in a speech to the Canadian Club on Tuesday.

“We want to work with politicians across the country to make this happen.”

Uber has operated in Toronto since 2012, initially offering taxi and limo services, and has now branched into UberX, which lets ordinary drivers use personal vehicles to pick up fares.

The city has always insisted that Uber, which has grown to become a giant company operating in 250 cities around the world, must abide by local taxi regulations, and must get a brokerage licence.

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Uber has argued that it is not a taxi company, but rather a technology company whose smartphone application merely links riders with drivers.

In his speech, Black softened the company’s view, suggesting it was reaching out to city councillors in the coming weeks in hopes of finding a political solution at Toronto city hall.

He pointed to new regulations adopted in at least 20 U.S. jurisdictions, including Washington, D.C., and Chicago, that specifically deal with ride-sharing applications.

“Existing regulations don’t apply nicely to Uber,” Black said. “Uber is a platform business. Just like eBay is a platform for retailers, or Expedia a platform for airlines, Uber is a platform where people can connect with local transportation options with the click of a button.”

The City of Toronto has filed an injunction asking an Ontario court to shut down Uber’s operations, though the case will not be heard until May.

Before Tory took office, he questioned the city’s move, saying that Uber and similar services are here to stay.

“It is time our regulatory system got in line with evolving consumer demands in the 21st century. As mayor, I intend to see that it does, while being fair to all parties, respecting the law and public safety,” Tory said at the time.

Black acknowledged that Uber has experienced enormous growth and made mistakes, including a sudden surge in ride prices when the hostage situation began in Sydney, Australia, this week.

He blamed an algorithm that sets price depending on supply and demand, but added that it was soon turned off and people were given refunds or free rides.

“We have made our fair share of missteps,” Black said, adding Uber was listening to the criticism. “We know as we grow as a company, we need to be a more humble company.

“We need to communicate better. Most importantly, we need engage more with policymakers and politicians to ensure we are part of our community,” he added.

Tracey Cook, executive director of the city’s municipal, licensing and standards department, noted that the city has met Uber on a number of occasions since 2012.

In an emailed statement, Cook said that the city “respects the legal process” and looks forward to having the important legal issues raised in the city’s application considered by a judge at the hearing scheduled for next May.

Peter Zahakos, CEO of Co-op Cabs, who attended the speech, questioned whether Uber truly wants to be regulated. “That’s not their model. If they want to get regulated, fine, let’s work that out. They can go get a broker’s licence and hire licensed taxi drivers,” Zahakos said.

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